The Western Democrat

Gov. Bragg's Inaugural.

On the 1st instant, Hon. Thomas Bragg was re-inaugurated Governor of North Carolina, and delivered the following address in the Senate Chamber:

Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Commons:

Two years ago it was my fortune to appear before you and give the pledges of fidelity required by law before entering upon the discharge of the duties of Chief Executive officer of the State. The time for which I had then been elected has expired. It may hardly be becoming in me now to speak of my past official course. My fellow-citizens of all political parties will judge of that, and, from my knowledge of them, I confidently believe they will do it, not only considerately, but kindly. Errors, no doubt, have been committed by me. I claim no exemption from the weakness incident in a greater or less degree to us all, and trust that I am sensible, to some extent at least, of my own imperfections in particular. All I ask of them is, to believe that I have been actuated by honest purposes, and have, on all occasions, endeavored to maintain the honor and dignity of the State, and to advance her welfare and prosperity, so far as I had power to do it, within the scope of my official authority.

A majority of my fellow-citizens have re-elected me Governor of the State. Indebted to them as I was before, for the generous confidence reposed in me, when comparatively a stranger to most of them, I can find no language now adequate to express my deep sense of the obligation under which they have placed me, and my gratitude for their decided support, after they had had an opportunity, in some extent, of passing upon my official conduct.

It is under these circumstances that I appear before you to-day to renew the pledges of official fidelity heretofore given: and if I enter upon the discharge of my official duties for a second term, not with entire confidence, I shall do so with alacrity, feeling assured that my official acts, whatever they may be, will be fairly and impartially passed upon by all, and that my errors, if any, will at least meet with the kind indulgence of those whose good opinion and support I have heretofore been so fortunate as to secure.

We enter to-day upon another year—whether it is to be one of weal or woe for our country and our State, is known only to Him who rules and directs the destinies of nations. Though the prospect before us is not one of calm unbroken brightness, and fragments of the storm clouds which but lately overhung the land still float on our political horizon, yet they have ceased for the time to threaten us with danger or to excite our immediate apprehensions. These indications may be delusive, but I have persuaded myself that there is a calmer, a better and more tolerant spirit abroad in the country. Our people have profited by the breathing time they have had since the late struggle through which they have passed. Educated in self-government, they have, on several occasions, been able to withstand excitements which would have proved fatal to other institutions than theirs, and have triumphed over dangers which seemed almost insurmountable.

To those unacquainted with the character of our people, these excitements appeared like upheavings from the great deep of society. Time has proved that they were but as the tempest-tost ocean waves, agitating the surface, while below all was tranquil and unmoved.

While taking this hopeful view of affairs, I am not unaware of the fact that many regard the present apparent calm as deceitful—a mere lull in the storm, which is destined at no distant day to burst upon us with renewed violence.

However this may be, it is now the duty of every good citizen to endeavor to allay the excitement, abating at the same time none of our rights, but firmly and unfalteringly sustaining them, as the surest means of their preservation and of perpetuating that Union and those institutions, under which we have, in a short time, grown to be one of the great powers of the earth.

Simple and unostentatious as are the ceremonies to-day, we have here represented the three departments of our State government—the Executive, the Legislative, and those who compose our Supreme Judicial tribunal. We have all of us, distinct but important duties to discharge. The most important, however, are those devolved upon you as the exclusive law-making power of the State.

In the progress of events, these duties have become more varied and important than formerly, and therefore requiring more time for their dispatch. As the resources of the State are brought to notice and become better known, these duties are likely to increase rather than diminish, and the scope of our legislation to be widened and extended.

I am aware, gentlemen, that several of the most important subjects upon which you have been called to act during the present session are yet undisposed of, but it is not my purpose now to speak of these or others, having so lately had an opportunity of communicating with you in another way. I trust I may be pardoned, however, for expressing the hope that although your session may become somewhat protracted, you will not suffer yourselves, on that account, to be hurried into hasty and imperfect legislation, always producing serious evils, and to which it is oftentimes impossible to apply remedies.

For myself, when my official term shall have ended, and I return to the walks of private life, I can hope for no higher gratification than to see North Carolina distinguished by all the qualities which constitute a great State, and taking the position at home and abroad which every one of her sons should wish her to occupy. Whether this shall be the case, depends more upon your labors than mine. That this hope may be realized, I am sure that you, and all who hear me to-day, will most heartily desire.